1. Clean Water Act Section 404: An O&G Perspective Andrew D. Smith SWCA Environmental Consultants

2. Projects in Waters of the US Regulations/Permits Clean Water Act –Section 404 – Army Corps Permit –Section 401 – State Certification River and Harbors Act –Section 10 – Army Corps

3. Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. Surface waters such as –Rivers, streams, and their tributaries –Wetlands adjacent to these waters –Ponds, lakes, and reservoirs –Arroyos

4. Jurisdictional Wetlands 1.Wetland Hydrology 2.Hydrophytic Vegetation 3.Hydric Soils

5. Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S.

6. Non-jurisdictional Waters Isolated wetlands Swales Ditches Significant nexus

7. Typical Activities Requiring Permits Construction of access roads Construction of well pads Pipeline crossings Placement of riprap or channel protection Construction of ponds, dams, dikes, or weirs

8. Example Activities Requiring Permits

10. Wetland Delineations Project scheduling and timing –May be seasonal restrictions (winter, growing season Locating and siting wetlands –Blue and white area on USGS maps could be waters of the U.S. Delineate the wetland –Jurisdictional determination –Map and document

12. Section 404 Permitting Avoid or minimize project impacts to wetlands Quantify unavoidable impacts < 0.5 acre – Nationwide Permit > 0.5 acre – Individual Permit Mitigate impacts > 0.1 acre

13. Nationwide Permits For common activities with minimal wetland/waters of the U.S. impacts Typical NWPs applicable to O&G activity –NWP 12: Utility Line Activities –NWP 14: Linear Transportation Projects –NWP 27: Stream and Wetland Restoration Activities

14. Individual Permits For projects > 0.5 acre impacts to wetlands or other waters of the U.S. or > 300 linear feet of streambed fill Public review of permit application –15 to 30 day public comment period Mitigation plan and implementation required Generally take 4 to 6 months for approval

15. Nationwide Permits Submit Preconstruction Notification (PCN) –Permittee contact info –Project description, location, purpose –Quantify unavoidable wetland impacts –Other environmental impacts –Maps, photos Corps has 45 days to respond to PCN “The prospective permittee shall not begin the activity…Unless 45 days have passed from the District Engineer’s receipt of the complete notification.” NWPs may take 90 days to process if mitigation required

16. Mitigation “No net loss” of wetlands –Typically 1:1 mitigation ratio in Colorado –Varies depending on habitat value, quality –“After-the-fact” typically higher ratio Restoration Creation Enhancement Mitigation bank guidance

17. Mitigation Aspects and Costs Planning Construction Annual Monitoring Maintenance Army Corps must sign off on completed mitigation (Typically 3 to 5 years for success)

18. Wetland Enhancement and Restoration

19. Wetland Mitigation Site Adams County, Colorado 2003 - Baseline Photo2005 – Same Location After Wetland Creation We obtained Corps of Engineers sign-off of the mitigation at this site only 2 years after implementation.

20. Compliance

22. Questions? For more information, contact: Andrew D. Smith SWCA Environmental Consultants 239.470.7868 303.487.1183 asmith@swca.com